第48章

"Merely one," returned Mr.Lavender, "who wishes to do all in his power to forward a project so fraught with beneficence to all mankind.I count myself fortunate beyond measure to have come here this morning and found the very Heart of the matter, the grain of mustard-seed."The gentleman, who had begun to walk again, here muttered words which would have sounded like "Damned impudence" if Mr.Lavender had not been too utterly carried away by his idea to hear them.

"I shall go forth at once," he said, "and make known the good tidings that the fields are sown, the League formed.Henceforth there are no barriers between nations, and the reign of perpetual Peace is assured.

It is colossal."

The gentleman abruptly raised his boot, but, seeming to think better of it, lowered it again, and turned away to the window.

Mr.Lavender, having bowed to his back, went out, and, urged on by his enthusiasm, directed his steps at once towards Trafalgar Square.

Arriving at this hub of the universe he saw that Chance was on his side, for a meeting was already in progress, and a crowd of some forty persons assembled round one of the lions.Owing to his appearance Mr.Lavender was able without opposition to climb up on the plinth and join the speaker, a woman of uncertain years.He stood there awaiting his turn and preparing his oration, while she continued her discourse, which seemed to be a protest against any interference with British control of the freedom of the seas.A Union Jack happened to be leaning against the monument, and when she had at last finished, Mr.Lavender seized it and came forward to the edge.

"Great tidings!" he said at once, waving the flag, and without more ado plunged into an oration, which, so far as it went, must certainly be ranked among his masterpieces."Great tidings, Friends! I have planted the grain of mustard seed or, in common parlance, have just come from the meeting which has incepted the League of Nations; and it will be my task this morning briefly to make known to you the principles which in future must dominate the policy of the world.Since it is for the closer brotherhood of man and the reign of perpetual peace that we are struggling, we must first secure the annihilation of our common enemies.

Those members of the human race whose infamies have largely placed them beyond the pale must be eliminated once for all."Loud cheers greeted this utterance, and stimulated by the sound Mr.

Lavender proceeded: " What, however, must the civilized nations do when at last they have clean sheets? In the first place, all petty prejudices and provincial aspirations must be set aside; and though the world must be firmly founded upon the principle of nationality it must also act as one great people.This, my fellow-countrymen, is no mere contradiction in terms, for though in their new solidarities each nation will be prouder of itself, and more jealous of its good name and independence than ever, that will not prevent its' sacrificing its inalienable rights for the good of the whole human nation of which it is a member.Friends, let me give you a simple illustration, which in a nutshell will make the whole thing clear.We, here in Britain, are justly proud and tenacious of our sea power--in the words of the poet, 'We hold all the gates of the water.' Now it is abundantly and convincingly plain that this reinforced principle of nationality bids us to retain and increase them, while internationalism bids us give--them up."His audience--which had hitherto listened with open mouths, here closed them, and a strident voice exclaimed:

"Give it a name, gov'nor.D'you say we ought to give up Gib?

This word pierced Mr.Lavender, standing where he was, to the very marrow, and he fell into such confusion of spirit that his words became inaudible.